The extract constructs representations of regional identity through differences shown between the characters. Dr Martin is portrayed as an outsider from a faster-paced city, in contrast with the locals of the rural countryside village. Camera shots frame Dr Martin separately and show his discomfort among the close-knit community. Elements like the villagers' dialects, clothing, and the rundown buildings also signify the rural identity, while reinforcing Dr Martin's status as an outsider. Sound effects of the wind and birds further locate the setting as a seaside town in contrast to Dr Martin's urban origins. Overall the technical elements emphasize differences in lifestyle and personality between Dr Martin and the locals to represent their varying regional identities.

1. Candidate A
Question 1
Camerawork is used to help construct the representation of regional identity through tw0-shots, as
the locals are seen with another member of the village, thus highlighting a close-knit community,
with the exception of Doc Martin, who is represented as an outcast predominantly. The first scene
of the extract depicts a mid-shot of a stereo typically larger, more wilder looking woman living in
the country and working in agriculture, highlighting her regional identity/norms when telling the
doctor to eat more. Furthermore this scene uses tracking movement when framing the doctor and
initial woman with the former especially trying to navigate their way through the countryside,
juxtaposing their region of identity, between urban, past-paced London and the rural, agricultural
village. Later, when the Doctor and the two locals are trying to fix the sink in vain, a tilting shot is
used to frame the two men as lower in status, compared to Doc Martin, who remains standing,
thus distancing himself from their regional identity as he’s not familiar with their customs. Lastly,
extreme close ups are predominantly used to frame the Doctor, highlighting his fluster in situations
and to further single him out amongst the rest of the characters.
In terms of editing, the Doctor’s fluster is enhanced by using a combination of shots to highlight
how he singles himself out by instructing the others on what to do while the sink is spilling out.
During this scene, the camera frames him in a mid-shot, and further isolates his character due to
his difference in regional identity by framing his facial expression in an extreme close-up, which
isn’t shared with the other characters in the scene. His regional difference in identity is further
exposed when the Doctor has his head positioned out of the window at the back. Here, a matchon-action is used to highlight how he stands out from the rest, as he is ‘on the outside, looking in’
in his situation as he is mocked by the group of girls, while he is left feeling alone and unfamiliar
with his situation, depicting his regional difference standing out. This is further shown when a
shot-reverse-shot is used unconventionally with the dog, who is shown to have more power than
the Doctor, as he belongs and/lives amongst the locals in this region and his presence is
unquestioned by them, unlike Doctor Martin, who is shown to be seen as quite different to their
lifestyle. Lastly, a match cut is used when the Doctor removes his head from the window, to
transition the scene, as the younger local removes his own hand from the sink. However, he is
back in a room in which he’s comfortable and belongs, while the Doctor enters with the new-found
dog, into a room in which he is not particularly welcome. Thus, this highlights how difference in
regional identity can contrast between lifestyles and actions amongst characters.
Regional identity is constructed through difference in dialogue between characters, which isn’t as
clear when spoken by the stereotypically ‘country’ characters, such as the women in the first
scene, but becomes more so, when Doc Martin interacts with those living in the village. Their
regional dialect is highlighted when less common expressions heard by a ‘Londoner’ like Doc
Martin, such as the words ‘jiffy’, ‘bodmin’ (meaning barmy) and the phrase ‘pulling your chain’ are
used by the locals, in contrast to the dialect used by Doc Martin, to juxtapose between his clearer
accent. The first woman in the extract was portrayed to be stereotypically more forceful and
domineering over Doctor Martin, a man, which wouldn’t be seen as much in the part of London
where the Doctor is from, as he is specifically instructed by her that he ‘need to be eating’. The
regional dialect is contrasted, when the younger of the two men working on the sink, is able to
delve into the coinage of the word ‘bodmin’, to the extent of offering a ‘literary reference’, to the
bewilderment of his friend. Thus the extract constructs the representation of regional identity by
not representing the locals all in the same, stereotypical way, to create a sense of verisimilitude.
Lastly, a build-up of synchronous sound is used during the chaotic sink spillage scene, such as the
running water and ringing telephone, to juxtapose the Doctor’s more sensible character and
highlight his distress. Lastly, the non-diegetic background music supports this also, as it is fairly
happy music, in contrast with the Doctor upkeeping his sense of formality and fluster in the scene.

2. The mise-en-scene constructs a representation of character type, as the locals are portrayed as
stereotypically large, to connote the country lifestyle. The Doctor is the only authoritative
character seen in the extract with the exception of the policeman which is highlighted by their
formal, dark clothing to connote power, but overall depicting the village as stereotypically troublefree, in contrast with the streets of London. Furthermore, the costume and make-up worn by the
women are much more colourful and excessive, to portray their regional identity. This is also done
with the initial woman, who wore greens and browns to reflect her agricultural lifestyle in her
region. This representation of village life is further portrayed with the dark lighting in houses, to
disorientate the Doctor from his London familiarity with technology, thus representing the
countryside as almost ‘medieval’.
Candidate B
Question 1
This extract of Dr Martin constructs the representation of ‘Regional Identity’ using camera shots,
angles, movement and composition, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. The extract demonstrates
the regional identity of a countryside/seaside area, alike to Cornwall. And the extract shows the
character Dr Martin to be from a busier, city built region.
The mise-en-scene constructs the representation of regional identity by the way the area is
presented. The scenes (especially outside scenes) shows brick built areas, that are not very
modern, and small shops rather than large supermarkets. This shows the region to be very small
and this also suggests that people within the area are likely to know each other. Furthermore, in
the shot/scene within the police station, the policeman (wearing a conventional uniform) is
hovering, suggesting a low crime rate for this region and he has time to clean up the station. The
Dr is dressed in a suit, where as everyone else from the community is wearing comfier clothing,
almost pyjama wear. This shows the differences of where the characters are from and suggests
the Dr is from a city.
Editing of this extract helps show the differences of the regional identities. There is a linear
narrative, which shows everything happening in a chronological order, this gives the audience an
idea of what happens within the region and also allows the audience to comprehend that the Dr is
new within the area and has a different regional identity to the other characters within the extract.
Also, when the Dr looks out the window, after the dog first jumps in, there is a cut-away shot. This
is almost juxtaposing the differences between the Dr and the teenage girls from the area that are
walking past and is also showing the countryside surroundings, showing regional identity.
The sound creates verisimilitude, especially the asychronas sounds, there is sound of birds
(sounding like seagulls) and wind which shows the regional identity as the audience will be able to
familiarise the sound and associate it with a seaside area. The winds also suggest that it is nearer
the border line of England. The diegetic sounds, such as the dialogue also shows the regional
identity. The people from the area have slight different accents; also uses different sociolect. The
teenage girls used the word ‘Bourdwin’ which the Dr later finds out is a local word for the word
‘Barmy’ – this shows his regional identity to have smaller understanding in this regions sociolect,
and he would’ve spoke differently where he is originally from.
The camera shots helps show the differences between the regional identity of each character.
Within the first scene, a tracking shot is used which follows where he walks, this shows his
regional identity as he is appearing to move faster than the other woman showing that he is busier
rather than laid back like the people from the area. This gives a representation of people from the
city being busier and more stressed and he conforms this. There is a high angle shot of the dog
when the Dr goes to talk to it. This almost a point of view shot from the doctor. The high angle
connotes that the dog is vulnerable and that the Dr holds power over it; therefore the dog may not

3. be used to this as the conventional personality of the area’s regional identity is likely to be more
friendly and the Dr appears to be quite aggressive and mean. This is followed by incidental music
which emphasises this action and differences between the regional identities. There are many
close-up shots of the characters. The Dr never appears to show a positive facial expression within
these shots which connotes he is stressed or upset compared with the people from the area.
Their regional identity appears to be happier due to their facial expressions shown in the close-up
shots; this is stereotypical for the representation of this area, as they tend to be known to be laid
back and calm. There is a close-up shot of the plumbers dad talking and he is in his own zone,
whilst juxtaposed behind him is the Dr looking angry due to his paralinguistic features (hands on
hips and facial expression). This shows the differences between their regional identity.
Overall, the mise-en-scene and sounds create the most verisimilitude for the scenes, which makes
the scenes realistic to those conventional to the region. And the other media elements help
represent the personalities of the characters to help detect what their regional identities are.